It is a mistake to believe that the long nightmare is over. Over the last five years, Donald T**** has injected a slow-acting venom into the American consciousness, the effects of which will continue to manifest, even after he micro-manages his ’emperor has no clothes’ exit on the 20th of January. On this eve of a new administration, it is useful to remember some history, recognizing that while events may not repeat themselves, ithey often rhyme (thank you, Mark Twain). I’ve been recalling a Wesleyan University seminar I chaired in 2017, just months after the last election. Entitled: Rise of the Right: Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini and the Age of Extremism, the day- long event was intended to alert conference goers to the through-line betwween past and present and–at that particular time–our uncertain and perilous future with a known autocratic despot at the controls. I dug into my files, to find the attached handout, which I had prepared for that event (a scan of the original).

I offer up now along with the observation that the old adminstration might have been handed its walking papers, but millions still believe The Big Lie, and will work tirerlessly in the months and years to come to prove their delusional point. As they have for the last four years, this punch-list (no pun intended) might serve as a blue print for action, for what T**** will consider his ongoing ‘movement,’ together with the unwavering support of his jack-booted troops…

By Richard J. Friswell, Managing Editor